NCJ Number
18256
Date Published
1974
Length
8 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM FOR POLICE AND THE EFFECTS THAT THE USE OF CIVILIAN FAMILY CRISIS CONSULTANTS HAS HAD ON POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
Abstract
THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM WERE TO UTILIZE POLICE AS CASE FINDERS AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS TO HELPING AGENCIES TO INCREASE POLICE KNOWLEDGE OF AND USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO SHARPEN POLICE SKILLS IN HANDLING FAMILY CRISES, AND TO IMPROVE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY CONSISTED OF INTERVIEWING OFFICERS, FAMILIES WHO HAD REQUESTED POLICE INTERVENTION, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM REFERRAL AGENCIES. THE DATA APPEAR TO JUSTIFY THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS. THE TRAINING PROGRAM WAS POSITIVELY PERCEIVED BY THE POLICE THEMSELVES. THE PROGRAM RESULTED IN DESIRABLE CHANGES IN POLICE BEHAVIOR IN HANDLING FAMILY CRISES WHICH WERE DISCERNABLE BY THE RECIPIENTS OF THE SERVICE. THE PROGRAM CHANGED POLICE BEHAVIORS TOWARD THE PUBLIC GENERALLY, RESULTING IN MORE COMMENDATORY LETTERS. THE PROGRAM RESULTED IN AN INCREASE OF REFERRALS TO SOCIAL AGENCIES. THE FAMILY CONSULTANTS SERVICE WAS WELL RECEIVED BY BOTH POLICE AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES, AND RESULTED IN FURTHER INCREASES IN REFERRAL RATES AND MORE EQUITABLY AND APPROPRIATELY DISTRIBUTED THEM. THE MAJORITY OF NEW REFERRALS WERE IN FACT SEEN BY AN AGENCY. FAMILIES FREQUENTLY USING POLICE INTERVENTION SERVICES HAVE REDUCED THEIR REQUESTS. IN GENERAL, THE PROGRAM APPEARS TO HAVE ACHIEVED ITS GOALS AND HAD LITTLE, IF ANY, NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE POLICE-MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)